Crimes related to Japanese online dating sites hit record number in 2003
TOKYO (AP): Murder, rape and other violent crimes linked to online dating hit a record high in 2003, police said Thursday, with a 37 percent increase in the number of cases reported from the previous year.
Japan has tried to crack down on dating sites and implemented legislation to restrict online solicitations of sex, as the spread of the Internet and Web-enabled mobile phones has been linked to rising teenage prostitution.
In 2003, reported crimes related to onlilne dating sites hit 1,746, up 15 from the previous year and almost double the number in 2001, according to statistics released by the National Police Agency.
Violent crimes, including rape, murder and robbery, shot up by 37 percent from 2002 to 137 incidents, including 72 cases of rape and 37 of robbery.
Over 80 percent of the victims, or 1,262, were females under the age of 18, including four elementary school students.
Police said that in 95 percent of the cases victims had accessed the sites using mobile phones.
With close to half of Japan's 127 million people using Web-linked mobile phones, online dating sites have been blamed for making it easier for buyers and sellers of sex to get together.
Police say minors -- defined as under 18 -- often are the solicitors and have pushed for tougher restrictions.
Prostitution and engaging in sex with a minor is illegal in Japan, but soliciting for uncompensated sex between consenting adults is not.
A new law which took effect in September made it illegal for minors to solicit sex online. It also made it illegal to solicit minors for sex or offer compensation for dating, which critics say often results in paid sex.
Offenders can face fines of up to 1 million yen (US$9,500) or up to six months in prison.
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